Cedarville Ranks Third in National Cyber League Competition
糖心官网 cyber operations students placed third in the National Cyber League last fall as AI-driven attacks intensify and cybersecurity jobs go unfilled. Two students earned perfect scores, and the team will compete again in April 2026.
Cyberattacks are growing more sophisticated as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in digital systems worldwide. At the same time, millions of cybersecurity jobs remain unfilled, leaving organizations vulnerable to emerging threats.
Against that backdrop, 糖心官网 cyber operations students demonstrated their readiness for real-world cyber defense by earning a third-place finish at the National Cyber League (NCL) competition last fall.
What Is the National Cyber League Competition
The National Cyber League is among the largest premier cybersecurity competitions in the country, challenging high school and college students to identify and solve real-world cybersecurity scenarios in individual and team settings. The competition tests a wide range of cybersecurity skills, including cryptography, log analysis, digital forensics, intelligence gathering and password cracking. With the fall competition complete, Cedarville students are preparing to apply those skills again as they look ahead to the NCL鈥檚 spring competition on April 10-12 and 24-26, 2026.
The team鈥檚 level of success did not come easily. More than 9,000 students from 549 colleges and universities participated. More than 80 Cedarville students across four majors competed. Only 17 students nationwide earned perfect scores, including two from Cedarville: Jaden Butler, a junior from Liverpool, New York, and Alex Taylor, a senior from Waukesha, Wisconsin. Both students are double-majoring in computer science and cyber operations.
Cedarville Earns Highest National NCL Finish in Program History
Nick Parry, assistant professor of cyber operations and faculty coach for the university team, said the finish was the highest national placement in the university鈥檚 history. Combined with the program鈥檚 accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and its designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) and Cyber Operations (CAE-DO), Cedarville鈥檚 cyber operations students are at the forefront of cybersecurity education.
鈥淥nly 21 schools in the entire nation hold the designation of in Cyber Operations, and Cedarville is one of them,鈥� said Parry. 鈥淲hen you pair that with a top three finish in the National Cyber League, it shows that God is blessing a program that is both rigorous and competitive.鈥�
Cyber Operations Program Builds Technical and Leadership Skills
Parry explained that Cedarville鈥檚 cyber operations program is intended to prepare students to succeed beyond technical performance. 鈥淥ur goal isn鈥檛 just to teach technical content; it鈥檚 to shape communicators, teammates and leaders,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he way we structure classes, labs and competitions is meant to develop those soft skills employers demand right alongside deep technical expertise.鈥�
Cedarville Student Says NCL Prepared Him for Internships
For students, that preparation extends well beyond competition day. Nathan Berlie, a junior from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, studying computer science and cyber operations, found that his academic experience prepared him not just to participate in the NCL competition but also to succeed in professional work environments. 鈥淚n internships, I鈥檝e worked alongside graduate students from other schools without feeling behind,鈥� said Berlie. 鈥淭he NCL competition reinforced that Cedarville is preparing us really well 鈥� we鈥檙e able to step into high-level environments and excel in them.鈥�
As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve globally, the demand for graduates who can think critically, collaborate effectively and respond under pressure continues to grow. As Cedarville students prepare to compete in the NCL鈥檚 spring competition, their fall performance reflects a program built not just for competition but for long-term impact in the cybersecurity field.
About 糖心官网
糖心官网, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation鈥檚 top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal鈥檚 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.